My hubby brought this home and we watched it tonight… I wanted to share it with everyone else… This is the super-short version of the whole thing (the whole thing is about an hour). While this excerpt is great, it doesn’t really give the understanding of the title (Fruitcake and Ice Cream). If you get a chance and can find it, watch the whole thing! This part is good though 
Posted in Faith
Do you ever wonder why you are here? Why was this time and this place chosen for you to be here? Is it just to live your own life however you want? Or, is there a greater purpose that you may not be aware of?
God is the perfect designer. He has a reason and a purpose for everything. God chose this time, and this place for you to be here. In His infinite wisdom, God placed you (and me) on this earth to be living in 2010, and to associate with the people in our lives for a specific reason.
Romans 9:17 – I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Although our roles, and gifts may be different (Romans 12:6), we all have the same purpose. To live a life that is honoring to God and to proclaim His glory in all that we do. Don’t you have that urge deep down inside of you? That pull that God has more for you than the day to day life that you’re in now? If you’re right there with me, and know exactly what I’m talking about, then I want to share this with you…
Ephesians 4:1 – I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received
This scripture was read at a Bible study I was at a few weeks ago and really stuck with me. Live my life worthy of the calling God has given me. Wow. What an exciting, and kind of frightening challenge! It shouldn’t be frightening, but when I don’t have control, or don’t have an idea of how things will turn out, it slightly puts me in a state of panic. God has a promise for that though.
Jeremiah 29:11 – I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God has a purpose for you and for me. We need to be seeking Him with our whole heart to find out what He wants us to do. We need to look to Him for the courage and strength to go through with the calling He has given us. Do you know where it is that God wants you to be? I can guarantee that it has something to do with the specific spiritual gift you have been given! In 1 Timothy 4:14 , it tells us ‘Do not neglect your gift’. God has given us our gifts for a reason and a purpose.
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you may have read here or here where it talks about God using me to speak hope to other women. That is still my heart and I’m finally doing something about it. Taking steps in the direction that God has laid on my heart. If you couldn’t notice, God has really been speaking to me lately about purpose and the reason he has me in the here and now.
God gave you a gift, and He has a purpose for your life. So my prayer for everyone is this: Ephesians 1:8 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you! (emphasis added)
For His Glory ~ Christal
This video is a little old, but the lyrics are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
Do you ever have those days where your workout is just completely OFF? That was totally me this morning and I wanted to kick and scream and throw my IPod and my heart rate monitor! But, I’m supposed to be an adult, so I didn’t. Again, just for the record, I really wanted to though!
For most of my weekly cardio, I have been running about 125-135 BPM for 30-45 minutes. This week I decided to kick it up a few notches. I am going to start doing HIIT for 20 minutes instead. So I get on the treadmill, I put it at 4.2 MPH to get a good warm up in. The machine never made it to 4.2… It kept going back and forth between 1.7 and 1.8 and was making a sound like an air plane landing! After a few minutes, I switched machines. Machine number 2 – worked like a charm, did everything I told it to do!
Then my BFF (/heart rate monitor) decided to act up. I had been running at 9MPH for about a minute and a half and she told me my HR was at 97BPM. Seriously? Grrr. So I stopped running for a minute to get her back on track.
Then, my IPod decided it wanted to keep falling out of its case. Seriously, 10 minutes in to my run, I wanted to go home.
Hopefully Wednesday’s cardio session will be more of a success than today’s was!
When I was younger, I wanted to be a photographer; that, or an interior designer. I’m not doing either of those things! I enjoy taking pictures, and I have my mom’s side of the family to thank for that! Every time the family gets together, you can count on tons of pictures being taken; especially during the holidays. One picture of the grandparents, and then the grandparents with their kids, and then their kids with their kids, and… well, you get the picture! I’ve gone through a ton of cameras, spending a little more on each one, hoping the quality of it would be better than the last. It never worked. So, for our wedding, Chad and I decided to register for a good camera. Thanks to everyone on his dad’s side of the family who chipped in and got us a Cannon PowerShot SX20 IS. Although I don’t know a lot about the camera still, I am going to figure it out!
Two weeks ago, Chad pointed out in the church bulletin that they were offering a basic photography class. There would be two classes, each lasting an hour. He told me I should sign up since I am no good at taking pictures! Just kidding. J He did say I should sign up for the classes though since I enjoy taking pictures. So I did! Last night was the first session. It was supposed to last an hour, but wound up being two hours long. The instructor also said he wanted to make it a three week series, but on the third week, we’d go out on a Saturday afternoon and do some shooting.
Last night we learned about white balance and exposure… how manually setting the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed will give you a correctly exposed picture. I understand the concept, so that is a good thing! Now I just need to figure out which setting goes with which to make beautiful pictures! Our lovely triangle…
I’m sure this is super basic for some of you, but it’s all brand new to me! I’m really excited about the classes! Hopefully you will start seeing better quality pictures on here!!!! For now, this is probably my favorite picture that I’ve taken (I’m big on scenery). Let’s see if I can top it!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Posted in Daily Life
I heard this song a few days ago and it has been playing in my head ever since. I thought I would share the lyrics and song with everyone 
I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away
I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands
When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands
Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when…
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave…
I never leave Your hands
Posted in Faith
Elliott, Val, Tina, Me, Holly, Annie
So it’s finally happening… after talking about it for a while now, my friend Holly is finally moving to L.A. It’s really bittersweet! I’m glad she is finally doing what she has always wanted to do, but at the same time, sad that she’s leaving. Coffee nights won’t be the same anymore! Who’s going to sit and have side bar conversations with me about new workout routines and beijo bags? Ugh… Sigh… and now insert sad face…
We started girls coffee nights about 5+ years ago. It started we would meet every Monday night for coffee; same time, same place. Then marriage, kids, and just life seemed to get in the way and it turned in to an attempt to meet once a month, if not every few months. The times changed but the place never did… until tonight. We all got there and for some reason the coffee house was closed!!! We decided on Panera instead (I definitely was NOT complaining!) Tonight was the last coffee night with Holly though (until she comes back to Cincy to visit). It won’t be the same, but we’re all very happy for her! Best of luck <3
Posted in Friends
Do you hear a lot of people say that new years resolutions are made to be broken? This year I’ve heard it a lot more than previous years, and it drives me crazy! New years, in my opinion, is a great time of reflection over the past year, and a great time to begin a new season, or a new chapter in your life. Out with the bad and in with the good
Here is my 2009 NYR list… let’s see how I did…
Chad – Complete a pre-marital CD + workbook we got from the marriage conference this past October (2008) - Check! We completed it on our own, then it turned out to be the same material we had to complete for our pre-marital counseling!
Family – Family night at least twice a month – Can I give out half a check on this one? I didn’t make this one happen every month, but there were some months where it was more, and some where it was less.
Financial – Purchase our first home by 9/09 – No check on this one. Chad and I opted to rent until we get his school loans paid off.
Friends – At least one night out with friends (this one once per month, even though I didn’t originally specify that)- Check. This one just happened with really no effort on my part.
Health – Less fast food – Check! I definitely ate a lot less fast food, but I’m going to continue on cutting back on this one!
Misc.- Cook more – Big check on this one! Especially since I moved in to my own place and then once we got married, even more
Spiritual – Worship, prayer, time spent reading the Bible, and alone time with God all on a daily basis – This one was like a roller-coaster. Some times were good, others not so good. Daily basis was my key word in that, and I didn’t do that
Work – More positive attitude – Check on this one… and WOW!!! What a change it has made in my work environment. This was a good resolution!
Overall, I’d say I did okay with those. I think it was nice to hit most aspects of my life and trying to improve those areas! Here is my list for 2010. Again, alphabetized, not prioritized!
Chad – Actual date nights… going out to a movie, museum, etc. at least once a month.
Family – Family night at least twice a month
Financial – Put a nice big dent in Chad’s school loans
Health/Fitness – Run the 10K for the flying pig in May. Possibly run a half marathon in September (this will depend on how the run in May goes)
Spiritual – Worship, prayer, time spent reading the Bible, and alone time with God all on a daily basis. I’m going to keep striving for this one!
Work – Take one outside and one inside course that will improve my production in my job.
Do you feel NYR are made to be broken? Did you make any NYR?
Posted in Daily Life, Faith, Fitness, family
My nephew was born 12.29.09 at 8:01am! His name is Christian Alexander Ilg. He weighed 6lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long! He’s much tinier than the girls were! They were both over 8.5lbs! It was so exciting to get to see him, but kind of sad at the same time. 1) All of our siblings are now finished having kids, so this will be the last niece/nephew that we get. 2) I lived with my sister when both of the girls were born, so I got to see them every day as they grew up. I won’t get to be there for this one… only when we visit. Guess we’ll just have to visit a lot! I’m sure my sister wouldn’t mind one bit! SO… for the moment we’ve all been waiting for, here are a few pictures of the new baby!
Posted in family
Today Jesus left His throne in Heaven where He was constantly praised and adorned by the angels and the creatures of Heaven. He came to earth where he was despised and rejected and later crucified. All of this so you and I could receive salvation and have an eternal life with Him in Heaven.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Lord thank You for Your sacrifice! We remember today for the wonderful gift You gave us. We are blessed and humbled and give You ALL the praise and Glory! Amen!
Merry Christmas everyone!
I have wanted to get a heart rate monitor for a while now! When I’m on a treadmill or elliptical and it ‘calculates’ how many calories burned, I just know it’s not accurate! It doesn’t know how fast or slow my heart is beating the entire time I’m on them! When I run outside, I can only guesstimate my heart rate and calories burned. I want to know which zone I’m in so I can maximize my performance! SO… I did it! I finally bought one. My Timex fitness pro is my new BFF. She counts my calories, monitors my heart rate, and yells at me (/beeps) when I’m pushing too hard or not trying hard enough! Talk about a true friend
On another note… Chad and I decorated for Christmas finally! We don’t have a lot of decorations, but we made do with what we had, and then bought just a few extra. We did need a Christmas tree though. It needed to be small enough to fit in our cozy home! Everything turned out great, and it feels like Christmas in our home :)
Here are a few pictures…
Posted in Daily Life, Fitness, family
